Unexplained EDEMA

[wiser_dachshund]

I was bulimic for a year, throwing up many times a day after binging. When I decided to stop throwing up, I found it very difficult to eat, and ended up eating 0-300 calories a day for a month, while exercising for an hour a day. I recently saw a nutritionist, and have worked myself up to about 1200-1500 calories a day, with about 30-60 minutes of moderate exercise a day. Since I started eating, I have been very constipated, bloated and uncomfortable, and within the last week, I have developed pitting edema in both legs which has still not been explained.

Does anyone have any insight or suggestions?

[wiser_dachshund]

I really had to find the problems underneath my bulimia, which was a symptom and a coping mechanism. Some people quit abruptly, and others find it easier to say, i'll only binge and purge once a day, instead of twice or seven or fifteen...and try to introduce healthier coping mechanisms. I was bulimic because it helped me deal with stress and other negative emotions. problem was, it was also damaging my health and my relationships with people and my self worth. now i do things instead of biging, like knit, healthy (and moderate) exercise, play musical instruments,  as well as finding the things i like about myself. i can't cover it all here, and the easiest way to help yourself is to enlist the help of others. beyond that, Gurze publishing has a great book with three week program to stop binging. also, cognative behavioral therapy is totally helpful, and there is a disordered eating book called Tips for Normal Eating- it covers the total range of disordered eating, and gives much advice and techniques for overcoming the underlying emotional and cognative problems that bulimia is usually hiding.

Good luck. It's worth it.

[red24]

i experienced the same thing. the only way i was able to avoid it was to limit the meals i was eating so my food was fully digested before i put more in. i found it took me a long time to digest food and i was very constipated the first few days i was bulimia free. it took a full two weeks to completely normalize my system. hang in there!!!

[ter_in_pa]

You said you were bulimic for a year.  I have been purging daily for about 8 months.  Not several times a day.  Usually once or twice tops.  I was wondering how you just stopped.  Did you talk with someone to stop or did you just stop on your own?  I do want to quit this secretive way of life eventually, but not now.  And I am hoping I can quit on my own.  Too embarrased to tell anyone!! even a doctor.  How can they understand unless they've been through it!!

[wiser_dachshund]

thanks. my nutritionist just mentioned taking a magnesium suppliment to help draw water into the bowels and soften stools, and it really seems to be helping. i eat lots of fiber with vegetables, whole grains and legumes, and i've never had much luck with metamucil (mind you, I was on a pretty heavy dosage of iron for low blood iron, and that was causing problems with constipation).

[avisg]

jd, is right , plus lot and lots of water. remember you have abused your body for so long now that you are feeding it it wants to hold on to everything ....this will not last forever ,i have been thru it myself .
avis

[jdrtwin1]

I would think a case of refeeding syndrome.  I'm not a professional but i've had it enough times to know the classic symptoms.

I would try a glass of metamucil 2x's a day, it helps regulate the bowels without that strong cramping laxative effect as it is just fiber